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Erin's Ring
What story might this ring tell, if only it could talk?
When thirteen-year-old Molly McCormick, who has recently moved from the Midwest to Dover, New Hampshire, finds an old Irish Claddagh ring poking up out of the dirt in a garden outside her local parish church, she is immediately intrigued. The ring's inscription, "To Erin--Love, Michael," fills her head with romantic possibilities. She teams up with her new friend, Theresa Grant, to uncover the story behind the lost ring. With the help of the head librarian at the public library, the two girls become immersed in the rich history of the Irish immigrants who came to Dover in droves during the 19th century, to escape famine and poverty in their homeland and make better lives for their children and grandchildren.
Molly and Theresa learn about the courage, tenacity and deep faith that were the hallmarks of the Irish immigrants--people with names like Ann and Seamus, Cara and Finn, and of course, Erin and Michael. The young girls eagerly delve into old records tucked away in the dark corners of the library and learn how instrumental Dover's Irish-Catholics were in getting the first Catholic church built in their New England town.
Molly and Theresa set out to discover the origins of the mysterious ring, but they unearth a story that is far stranger and infinitely more touching than anything they could have ever imagined.
When thirteen-year-old Molly McCormick, who has recently moved from the Midwest to Dover, New Hampshire, finds an old Irish Claddagh ring poking up out of the dirt in a garden outside her local parish church, she is immediately intrigued. The ring's inscription, "To Erin--Love, Michael," fills her head with romantic possibilities. She teams up with her new friend, Theresa Grant, to uncover the story behind the lost ring. With the help of the head librarian at the public library, the two girls become immersed in the rich history of the Irish immigrants who came to Dover in droves during the 19th century, to escape famine and poverty in their homeland and make better lives for their children and grandchildren.
Molly and Theresa learn about the courage, tenacity and deep faith that were the hallmarks of the Irish immigrants--people with names like Ann and Seamus, Cara and Finn, and of course, Erin and Michael. The young girls eagerly delve into old records tucked away in the dark corners of the library and learn how instrumental Dover's Irish-Catholics were in getting the first Catholic church built in their New England town.
Molly and Theresa set out to discover the origins of the mysterious ring, but they unearth a story that is far stranger and infinitely more touching than anything they could have ever imagined.
192 pages, Paperback
First published November 24, 2014
1 person is currently reading
465 people want to read
About the author
Laura H. Pearl
5 books31 followersI am the author of FINDING GRACE, a 2012 recipient of the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval (available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon) and ERIN'S RING (currently available in paperback). ERIN'S RING was awarded two Book Awards in 2015 from the Catholic Press Association: 2nd place in Books for Teens & Young Adults, and 3rd place in Catholic Novels.
I was born in NJ, grew up in Upstate NY, and studied at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, where I earned a BA in English. I am married to my high school sweetheart, with whom I raised 5 sons, now all grown, in Southern NH. These days, I'm also "Grammy" to 16 darling grandchildren (and counting!). My husband and I recently moved to northern VA to be closer to our kids and grandkids.
As a young girl, I always dreamed of one day writing a novel. After happily spending my entire adult life as a stay-at-home mom, I finally fulfilled that dream in 2012, when my first novel, FINDING GRACE, was published by Bezalel Books. My second Catholic YA novel, ERIN'S RING, was released by Bezalel in 2014.
I write fiction that I hope will give glory to God--while inspiring young readers to fight the good fight, in a world that often seems to have forgotten Him.
I was born in NJ, grew up in Upstate NY, and studied at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, where I earned a BA in English. I am married to my high school sweetheart, with whom I raised 5 sons, now all grown, in Southern NH. These days, I'm also "Grammy" to 16 darling grandchildren (and counting!). My husband and I recently moved to northern VA to be closer to our kids and grandkids.
As a young girl, I always dreamed of one day writing a novel. After happily spending my entire adult life as a stay-at-home mom, I finally fulfilled that dream in 2012, when my first novel, FINDING GRACE, was published by Bezalel Books. My second Catholic YA novel, ERIN'S RING, was released by Bezalel in 2014.
I write fiction that I hope will give glory to God--while inspiring young readers to fight the good fight, in a world that often seems to have forgotten Him.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 23, 2015
I enjoyed Erin’s Ring for three main reasons: It was well constructed and written, it possessed a richness of history and humanity rarely expressed so well, and it depicted a story of enduring love and courageous faith.
It opens with Molly McCormick, the eldest of six (soon seven) siblings. In finding someone’s lost Claddagh ring, the story begins to unfold. In trying to find the owner, Molly befriends Theresa and both of them together search for the story of the ring, which through the inscription they know belongs to someone named Erin. While seeking the history and ownership of the lost ring, the two friends uncover the Irish history of Dover, New Hampshire. Presently, the reader is drawn into another story of an Irish immigrant coming to Dover from Ireland many years before.
Ann, leaving her family to find work in the land of prosperity, comes to Dover to work in the weaving factory that then was the dominating business of the town. Her faith guides her as she struggles against the hardships and rigors of working long hours at a grueling job to support herself and her family, while longing for a Catholic church to provide for her spiritual needs. Ann settles into her life and soon meets a young man. On a snowy winter night, Seamus Finnegan asks her to marry him and gives her a beautiful Claddagh ring from Ireland. They are married and embark on what they hope to be a joy-filled life together.
However, life is fraught with tragedies and struggles for Ann. Her first child dies and later her beloved Seamus also leaves this world. Ann’s courage and steadfastness endures, however.
The story continues and we see glimpses of Ann’s daughter’s life; then her daughter’s—Erin’s life. Erin, although an ardent Catholic like her mother and grandmother, falls deeply in love with a Protestant. Both Michael (her lover) and Erin’s family strongly disapprove of the arrangement and discourage it.
But on a night after a dance, Erin and Michael decide to elope; hoping that when they return their families would accept their marriage. However, a tragic event intervenes, and the couple never fulfils their plans. The Catholic church catches on fire and Michael and Erin are drawn back to their town of Dover. While watching the church burn, Michael receives a sudden inclination that he must save the Tabernacle—that he cannot let Jesus remain in the burning church, notwithstanding the fact that he—as a Protestant—does not believe in the presence of God under the appearance of bread. Michael leaves Erin, and a Claddagh ring he had meant to give to his beloved falls from his pocket as he runs into the burning church.
Michael is badly injured by the burns he receives, but through Erin’s grandmother’s (Ann’s) perseverance, he does not die. Michael converts to Catholicism, changed by the event that affected him so much, and he and Erin are married. However not with the Claddagh ring he bought for his love. It remains lost in the rubble of the church, despite attempts to find it. Many years later, when Molly McCormick leads the way into church on Sunday, she finds it.
The ring is what brings her and her friend together. And indirectly, the ring furthermore brings Theresa back to the Church after longs years of deserting her spiritual life following the death of her little brother and her parent’s breakup.
We are carried in Erin’s Ring back between the centuries in Dover, New Hampshire. We see Dover when the women at the factory make one of the first women’s strikes in the country, struggling for better working conditions, and when the Irish Catholics persevere in a struggle for a church of their own.
Through the different stories and generations, we see the endurance of faith in the Irish Catholics, their steadfast resilience after innumerable struggles. And by reading about them, we find we ourselves are inspired to do likewise.
It opens with Molly McCormick, the eldest of six (soon seven) siblings. In finding someone’s lost Claddagh ring, the story begins to unfold. In trying to find the owner, Molly befriends Theresa and both of them together search for the story of the ring, which through the inscription they know belongs to someone named Erin. While seeking the history and ownership of the lost ring, the two friends uncover the Irish history of Dover, New Hampshire. Presently, the reader is drawn into another story of an Irish immigrant coming to Dover from Ireland many years before.
Ann, leaving her family to find work in the land of prosperity, comes to Dover to work in the weaving factory that then was the dominating business of the town. Her faith guides her as she struggles against the hardships and rigors of working long hours at a grueling job to support herself and her family, while longing for a Catholic church to provide for her spiritual needs. Ann settles into her life and soon meets a young man. On a snowy winter night, Seamus Finnegan asks her to marry him and gives her a beautiful Claddagh ring from Ireland. They are married and embark on what they hope to be a joy-filled life together.
However, life is fraught with tragedies and struggles for Ann. Her first child dies and later her beloved Seamus also leaves this world. Ann’s courage and steadfastness endures, however.
The story continues and we see glimpses of Ann’s daughter’s life; then her daughter’s—Erin’s life. Erin, although an ardent Catholic like her mother and grandmother, falls deeply in love with a Protestant. Both Michael (her lover) and Erin’s family strongly disapprove of the arrangement and discourage it.
But on a night after a dance, Erin and Michael decide to elope; hoping that when they return their families would accept their marriage. However, a tragic event intervenes, and the couple never fulfils their plans. The Catholic church catches on fire and Michael and Erin are drawn back to their town of Dover. While watching the church burn, Michael receives a sudden inclination that he must save the Tabernacle—that he cannot let Jesus remain in the burning church, notwithstanding the fact that he—as a Protestant—does not believe in the presence of God under the appearance of bread. Michael leaves Erin, and a Claddagh ring he had meant to give to his beloved falls from his pocket as he runs into the burning church.
Michael is badly injured by the burns he receives, but through Erin’s grandmother’s (Ann’s) perseverance, he does not die. Michael converts to Catholicism, changed by the event that affected him so much, and he and Erin are married. However not with the Claddagh ring he bought for his love. It remains lost in the rubble of the church, despite attempts to find it. Many years later, when Molly McCormick leads the way into church on Sunday, she finds it.
The ring is what brings her and her friend together. And indirectly, the ring furthermore brings Theresa back to the Church after longs years of deserting her spiritual life following the death of her little brother and her parent’s breakup.
We are carried in Erin’s Ring back between the centuries in Dover, New Hampshire. We see Dover when the women at the factory make one of the first women’s strikes in the country, struggling for better working conditions, and when the Irish Catholics persevere in a struggle for a church of their own.
Through the different stories and generations, we see the endurance of faith in the Irish Catholics, their steadfast resilience after innumerable struggles. And by reading about them, we find we ourselves are inspired to do likewise.
December 14, 2014
This book is packed full of Irish vocabulary that almost made me think my Irish-born grandmother was sitting here telling me stories.
I enjoyed Erin's Ring, a YA novel that will appeal to young women 13 and up. Full of links from the past to the present and fascinating historical detail, this novel will leave the reader looking for more stories of the present-day protagonists as well as the New England mill girls they studied as part of a school project. As to the ring, it's a detail that will surprise the reader at the very end!
I enjoyed Erin's Ring, a YA novel that will appeal to young women 13 and up. Full of links from the past to the present and fascinating historical detail, this novel will leave the reader looking for more stories of the present-day protagonists as well as the New England mill girls they studied as part of a school project. As to the ring, it's a detail that will surprise the reader at the very end!
December 17, 2017
Such an enjoyable historic fiction book! I really liked how the book alternates between a modern day story and the history of Irish immigrants that came to America in the 1800’s.
It begins when Molly – a modern day middle school girl, finds an engraved ring at her church. When she discovers it’s a traditional Irish ring, she decides to research the town’s rich Irish history for a school project. As she delves into her research, we are drawn into the world of the Irish immigrants that fled from Ireland during the Potato famine to find a better life here in America.
This is a fascinating look into the struggles of the Irish Catholic immigrants – many of which were single young men and women who came over to work and sent money back to their families.
The historical parts were quite interesting and thought-provoking and the storyline in the modern day chapters was very touching as well. I really wonderful story about the importance of family, friendship, and faith.
March 25, 2015
Erin’s Ring by Laura H. Pearl is an unforgettably heartfelt and soul-stirring story of faith and love. It hooked me in the first chapter when 13-year-old Molly, new to the town of Dover, discovers an old Claddagh ring in the dirt around St. Mary’s Church. How did the ring get there? Whose ring is it?
Together with her new friend Theresa, who is struggling with a deep sorrow, Molly searches for answers by delving into the history of the town and the Irish immigrants, particularly the mill girls who worked long, hard hours for money to send home to their loved ones.
19-year-old Ann’s story begins in 1827, with her boarding a ship bound for America, with hopes of joining the mill girls. Resourceful and determined, she works hard, sends money and letters home, and clings to her Catholic faith. Meanwhile, a budding romance fills her with hopes and dreams for the future. The multilayered story is rich with Catholic traditions and Irish heritage.
Erin’s Ring is a splendid tale, with meaningful yet entertaining content, easily enjoyed by adults and teens alike. The pull to keep reading was irresistible; I was continually trying to squeeze reading time into my busy day. The plot always entices and is driven by the characters, their lives, loves, and sufferings. The young women of the past and present struggle with hardships as their lives are shaped by faith in God.
I’m thoroughly impressed with Pearl’s ability to create this beautiful tapestry of love, hope, and courage. She has such a talent for writing wholesome yet real stories. I’m also very in awe of the fact that she wrote Erin’s Ring in a matter of months. That can only be done with extreme dedication and a true passion for the story. Like Pearl’s debut novel ( Finding Grace ), Erin’s Ring is another keeper for my bookshelf to pass on to my daughters!
Reviewed by:
Therese Heckenkamp
Catholic author of Past Suspicion and Frozen Footprints
Together with her new friend Theresa, who is struggling with a deep sorrow, Molly searches for answers by delving into the history of the town and the Irish immigrants, particularly the mill girls who worked long, hard hours for money to send home to their loved ones.
19-year-old Ann’s story begins in 1827, with her boarding a ship bound for America, with hopes of joining the mill girls. Resourceful and determined, she works hard, sends money and letters home, and clings to her Catholic faith. Meanwhile, a budding romance fills her with hopes and dreams for the future. The multilayered story is rich with Catholic traditions and Irish heritage.
Erin’s Ring is a splendid tale, with meaningful yet entertaining content, easily enjoyed by adults and teens alike. The pull to keep reading was irresistible; I was continually trying to squeeze reading time into my busy day. The plot always entices and is driven by the characters, their lives, loves, and sufferings. The young women of the past and present struggle with hardships as their lives are shaped by faith in God.
I’m thoroughly impressed with Pearl’s ability to create this beautiful tapestry of love, hope, and courage. She has such a talent for writing wholesome yet real stories. I’m also very in awe of the fact that she wrote Erin’s Ring in a matter of months. That can only be done with extreme dedication and a true passion for the story. Like Pearl’s debut novel ( Finding Grace ), Erin’s Ring is another keeper for my bookshelf to pass on to my daughters!
Reviewed by:
Therese Heckenkamp
Catholic author of Past Suspicion and Frozen Footprints
July 6, 2015
Thirteen year old Molly McCormick, after discovering an old Irish Claddagh ring in the churchyard, sets out to solve the mystery it. While researching the ring, Molly delves deeper into the history of her new home and the reader is treated to a second storyline intertwined with the first. Going back over 170 years, Pearl also tells the tale of young Ann O’Brien, as she leaves her home country of Ireland and immigrates to the small town of Dover, NH.
This is historical fiction at its best. The two story lines, masterfully braided together across time, complement and balance each other. Ann is living the stories that Molly is learning about as she pours over records in the town library searching for the owner of the Claddagh ring and researching a school project.
As it turns out, the ring, though fairly prominently featured and obviously of importance, is not really what Erin’s Ring is all about though. The story is really about a deep and abiding love for the Catholic faith. Both Molly and Ann, in every challenge and situation, are driven by their faith. They are unapologetically passionate about their faith. They are inspired to work for what is right because of their faith.
Pearl is an expert at creating authentically Catholic characters who are also multi-dimensional. So, it comes as no surprise that it was the characters that drew me into the story. I especially love that the relationships in their lives create a perfect conduit for their strengths and weaknesses to be revealed. The relationships in the book are full of ups and downs, misunderstandings and insecurities, and, like the characters themselves, are just so real.
Erin’s Ring is a beautiful love story but it’s not so much about the romantic love between a man and a woman. Rather, it is about true love and devotion to the Catholic faith and to family. This story fills a need for real Catholic fiction that never preaches, yet clearly delivers a message of hope and piety.
This is historical fiction at its best. The two story lines, masterfully braided together across time, complement and balance each other. Ann is living the stories that Molly is learning about as she pours over records in the town library searching for the owner of the Claddagh ring and researching a school project.
As it turns out, the ring, though fairly prominently featured and obviously of importance, is not really what Erin’s Ring is all about though. The story is really about a deep and abiding love for the Catholic faith. Both Molly and Ann, in every challenge and situation, are driven by their faith. They are unapologetically passionate about their faith. They are inspired to work for what is right because of their faith.
Pearl is an expert at creating authentically Catholic characters who are also multi-dimensional. So, it comes as no surprise that it was the characters that drew me into the story. I especially love that the relationships in their lives create a perfect conduit for their strengths and weaknesses to be revealed. The relationships in the book are full of ups and downs, misunderstandings and insecurities, and, like the characters themselves, are just so real.
Erin’s Ring is a beautiful love story but it’s not so much about the romantic love between a man and a woman. Rather, it is about true love and devotion to the Catholic faith and to family. This story fills a need for real Catholic fiction that never preaches, yet clearly delivers a message of hope and piety.
July 15, 2015
The word "potent" is what comes to mind when I think of this book or see it on my shelf. As in its spiritual potency. The power of Catholicism radiates off the page and it was almost overwhelming as I read it. Oh, and yes, it's a good and fun story too.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews